Note: Parwana Ibrahimkhail Nijrabi, one of the protesting women, was detained and tortured by the Taliban. After her release from Taliban imprisonment, she founded the “Women Movement for Freedom and Peace” movement and has participated in significant international meetings over the past four years, speaking about the detention and torture of women in Taliban prisons. Recently, she spoke at the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva and attended the side events of the council’s 59th session. In this interview, she was asked about the importance of these meetings and the issues raised by women there.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: Ms. Ibrahimkhail Nijrabi, what motivated you to participate in this session? What does attending such a high-level event mean to you?
Nijrabi: The pain and suffering of the women of Afghanistan, their continuous deprivation, and the systematic discrimination and suppression by the Taliban motivated me to participate in advocacy and human rights programs. Participating in such events is invaluable to me. These platforms allow us to amplify the voices of Afghanistan’s women to the world and advocate for them.
The active presence of women in these programs demonstrates the vibrancy and resonance of their voices, leading to purposeful and effective advocacy in international forums. These meetings provide opportunities to document the Taliban’s crimes, ensure women’s voices are heard, and engage in discussions with representatives of various countries, which helps reflect the demands and suffering of women.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: What was your personal experience at this year’s side events of the UN Human Rights Council? How would you assess the overall atmosphere of the sessions?
Nijrabi: My participation in this year’s Human Rights Council sessions was profoundly significant and valuable. At the main session, I had the opportunity to speak about the critical situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s repressive actions. I also attended side events, where I discussed the human rights situation in Afghanistan with international activists and representatives from various countries. I am delighted to see that the issue of women’s rights and the situation in Afghanistan remain on the agenda of global meetings. This achievement is owed to the persistent advocacy of Afghanistan’s women and girls, who, through their testimonies and documentation of Taliban crimes, have drawn the attention of the international community and human rights organizations to the situation in Afghanistan. This experience was very positive and inspiring for me.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: Did you face any specific challenges or obstacles while attending these sessions?
Nijrabi: Participating in human rights sessions undoubtedly comes with challenges. My presence at these events has met with varied reactions, as we are confronted by the Taliban and their lobbies. There have certainly been obstacles along the way, but our determination and hope for freedom and liberation have overcome all these challenges. I will spare no effort in pursuing the demands of women.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: How was the situation of Afghanistan’s women reflected in the speeches or discussions at this session?
Nijrabi: At this year’s UN Human Rights Council sessions, new issues were discussed, allowing for a deeper and more comprehensive focus on the situation of women in Afghanistan. Most topics were well-documented, and addressing such issues effectively highlights the plight of Afghanistan’s women, ensuring they are taken seriously. Given the widespread human rights violations and challenges women face, addressing all of them is naturally difficult. Nevertheless, the issues concerning women in Afghanistan were addressed to the extent possible and documented. Countries not only took positions but also listened to the voices of women and took reports of the situation with them.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: What issues regarding Afghanistan’s women, raised by you or other women at the session, had previously been overlooked?
Nijrabi: The testimonies of victims of the Taliban’s discrimination and gender apartheid were a significant focus, examined with greater seriousness. Proposing the establishment of accountability mechanisms and determining ways to access justice, as well as having these demands affirmed and expressed by major human rights organizations, were significant and valuable steps in this session. These issues were raised with greater clarity and strength compared to the past. Additionally, the emphasis on the full and meaningful participation of Afghanistan’s women in all spheres and international platforms, as well as their leadership in taking the initiative, was a defining issue.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: Did you feel that the international community is committed to the fate of Afghanistan’s women, or has this issue been sidelined?
Nijrabi: Despite some optimism, unfortunately, the international community’s response to women’s issues does not meet the expectations of Afghanistan’s women. Many countries, through their double standards, have enabled the continuation of human rights violations by the Taliban. However, I hope that the advocacy of women, particularly during this session of the Human Rights Council, which was largely led by women, will open new pathways for them.
There is great hope that the voices of women and their extensive, meaningful presence in international meetings will lead to changes in the current situation. All women and human rights experts have warned and emphasized that the international community must urgently move beyond the current state, listen to women’s voices, and not allow the Taliban to continue their suppression and torture without accountability.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: What solutions did you propose to improve the situation of Afghanistan’s women? Did you receive any specific reactions from council members?
Nijrabi: In line with the suggestions of other women, I repeatedly proposed that gender apartheid be criminalized as an international crime and recognized as such in Afghanistan to ensure women’s access to justice. I also suggested creating more platforms for women and their protest movements to enable more effective advocacy, aligning the voices of protesters on the streets with those at international meetings for greater impact. These proposals, along with other points raised by women, were noted and supported by council members.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: Do you have any specific plans or initiatives to pursue after this session?
Nijrabi: Yes. Based on the experience gained from this session, I will pursue specific plans. I will work on expanding the scope of protests and advocacy efforts. I will continue advocacy in a more organized, structured, and effective manner. We will keep fighting until Afghanistan is liberated from the Taliban’s grip.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: In your view, how impactful is the presence of Afghanistan’s women at such sessions? Are their voices heard in these spaces?
Nijrabi: In my opinion, the presence of Afghanistan’s women at such sessions is crucial. If the world truly intends to engage with the Taliban, it must first hear our voices, see the realities, and then decide on engagement. I believe the presence of women in these meetings can influence the decisions of other countries. The key is that we will not remain silent and will fight to reflect the oppression and widespread suppression of women. If the international community remains indifferent, the suppression of human rights in Afghanistan will not stay confined and will spread to other parts of the world.
Hasht-e Subh Daily: If you had a message for the women of Afghanistan to convey through this interview, what would it be?
Nijrabi: The women of Afghanistan are history-makers who advocate for their future both on international platforms and in the streets of Afghanistan. I am certain they will spark a revolution. The women of Afghanistan must remain hopeful; by reading, becoming educated, and continuing the education of their daughters, they can shape the future. Today, many have access to online education opportunities, which they should utilize and stand in solidarity with girls who have been deprived of education. By educating themselves and others, they can fight against the darkness and ignorance of the Taliban.
You can read the Persian version of this interview here:
گفتوگو با پروانه ابراهیمخیل نجرابی؛ زنان با صدایی بلندتر در نشستهای جهانی حضور دارند
